Favorite deer rifle caliber?

[hunter5567]

I hunt with my Marlin 308MX and Ruger American 450 Bushmaster along with a H&R 45-70 and 357 Magnum that I shoot 360 Dan Wesson in.
I'll hunt with other calibers from time to time as well like the 270 WSM, 44 Magnum, 30-30, 6.8 SPCII, 7.62x39, 308, and 444.
I'm starting to do more handgun hunting with a S&W 460, Ruger 454 Toklat, Ruger 44 Magnum, and TC Encore 308.

 

[lashowman]

I guess you could say I am old school. Many years ago I was talking to a friend of mine and told him I wanted an all-around weapon. One that I could use on deer, elk, moose and even bear if I wanted to try that. He put me on the 6.5x55 Swede. It has been used in Europe since the late 1800's to shoot European Elk (moose). I did a little research and then decided to have one built. Because of the bullet length wind has hardly any affect on the round unlike others. The recoil is so light your young children can shoot it or even the wife. If is very accurate and deadly. It can be used for long range or short range, it does not matter. When I got my Swede, you had to hand load because there were not many options for loaded ammunition. The 6.5 craze has taken hold. Now you have the 6.5 Creedmoor taking this country by storm, the 6.5x47 target or hunting rifle (extremely accurate with 123 grain scenars. The 6.5x284, the 260 Remington and one that was made to hunt bear in Alaska the 6.5-06. I have hunted with a 30-30, 30-06, 270, 243, 35 Whelan but my go to weapon is the 6.5x55 Swede. That is one rifle that will be with me till they throw dirt in my face.

 

[Stonehenge]

For me 30-30, I've knocked a few over like cheap bicycles at 150, and group decently on paper at 200. I've never heard anyone say .444 is too much for deer before, considering it's right there between .35 whelen and 45-70, and I know plenty of guys who run a 45-70 all year long with up to 300 yard shots, the heavier the bullet the less you have to adjust for, a big 300 grain bullet is almost unaffected by wind, but it drops like crazy...but if you know how much at which range you should be able to hit if your a good judge of range.

I tend to ignore numbers though, I know plenty of people who won't hunt with anything less than a 7mm rem mag with no more than a 200yd shot, and they tell me 30-30 isn't enough, but I know tons of people who've killed more deer than them with .22lr lol.

I'd just say find a caliber that is a known a deer caliber, ".250 or higher for me" that you're comfortable shooting, along with some ammo that matches the purpose and just get really familiar with it, learn how it shoots at all sorts of ranges and you should be fairly effective with it.

 

[Stonehenge]

Hard to go wrong with 6.5. There's probably no other caliber on the planet that's been developed harder by more people than 6.5 caliber. I've been looking really hard into 6.5 grendel myself.

 

[Dranrab]

With modern bullets anything from the 223 on up will turn lights out at the distances you are hunting at. I have shot everything from hot rodded 45-70 loads, to 35 Whelen to 30-06 all the way down to 223 and many in between. Find something mild and easy to shoot. My favorite has long been a 257 Roberts.

This is the best deal going on a rifle anywhere right now. The Venture is a very well made rifle and I have never heard of one that wasn't highly accurate. https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/202107

 

[Lyle Savant]

I like and use .308 (7.62x51mm). It is a .30 Caliber, but shorter casing than the .30-.06 and less recoil. It’s flat shooting and commonly used by the Military & Police for sniping. I have taken quite a few deer, as well as hogs with it and have never lost an animal. Ammo is common and easy to find. I started with a pump, but now use the Bolt-Action & Semi-Auto.

On a Ballistic Chart, it is right under the .30-.06 and above the .270.


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[MTregre]

Over the past 4 seasons I have switched from 30.06 to 308.
I'm currently running a M1a for short to mid range and grabbed a 700 sps for long range.

 

[Moondew]

Some gotta be different...
270 Weatherby Mag w an older Mark V just because I like the looks and power
Marlin lever in .357 Mag w 140 gr SP loaded specifically for that rifle
Older Thompson Center .54 cal muzzle loader

I pick one or the other depending on the venue

 

[mike84z28]

My son has been shooting a .270 WSM for a few years with great success , but their new lease is going to require some longer shots than previously . His .270 is not dropping them at longer ranges and there is no blood trail to use . He's considering a .338 Lapua but that seems like overkill . We're talking about 300 + yard shots . Any thoughts ?

Dan what Ammo is your son shooting from the .270wsm ? I use Nosler Accubonds and have had great success past 300 yards with them in 140 grain. We have some long shots possible on our lease and some guys like the 300wsm also. It's just to much gun for me and my old shoulder.

 

[johnpaul]

What I believe is the best all-around caliber for hunting is 308 winchester.It is only slightly less powerful than 3006 but flatter shooting and way less recoil.My 5ft 1in 125 girlfriend shot my remington 700,first time shooting any gun anytime and hit bullseye at 50 yds and I said shoot it again! bingo.If 308 is good enough for army and marine snipers it is good enough for me (7.62x51mm) The 444 Marlin cart. is flatter shooting than 4570 which I use for primitive and on small game I use my "honey",a ruger 10/22 mag

 

[johnpaul]

try 308 with maybe 160 grain.Will drop elk at 400 plus

 

[johnpaul]

You are so right.I haven't been here for a long time and I just posted for first time and said almost the same thing.I have a remington pump and bolt

 

[johnpaul]

The 3006 is a fine cartridge but when I started researching I did not want what everybody was using because that's what everybody was using.Good enough for our great people in military,good enough for me.7mm-08 and 243 is same brass and pretty good cart.too

 

[bowhtr1]

The 7mm08 and 243 have shorter brass. They are the same as 308. Just different neck sizes. 22-250 also.

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[johnpaul]

My goodest friend that used to use 243 till I talked him into 308 said that 6.5 grendel was a 243 on steroids.In north american magazine I read an article about this man that did lots of kill autopies with all calibers.Basically,if you have a good bullet,and you put it the right place,all cartridges are good.Everybody swears about or against this or that,but they are all good.Just learn to to shoot them well

 

[johnpaul]

I think the 22-250 is necked down from 250

 

[johnpaul]

Yes.I don't think 22-250 is 308 cartridge

 

[bowhtr1]

Yes it was from a 250 savage.

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[johnpaul]

Great story Rusty

 

[john17427]

Like many I’ve used several rifles over the years. For the last several I’ve been using 243 and 45-60 WCF. Sort of two extremes, but I’ve never had anything run off from either one.